The Trial in the Ongwen Case to Open on 6 December 2016 at the ICC

Dominic Ongwen at the International Criminal Court after being transferred to Court’s custody in 2015 (source: ICC)

The Prosecutor v. Ongwen is set to open on 6 December 2016 at 09:00 a.m (GMT +1) before Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court. Alleged Brigade Commander Dominic Ongwen was transferred to the Court’s custody on 21 January 2015 pursuant to an ICC warrant of arrest concerning the situation in Uganda.

Mr. Ongwen is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to attacks against the civilian population at Pajule, Odek, Lukodi and Abok IDP camps in Uganda between October 2003 and June 2004, including: “murder and attempted murder; rape; sexual slavery; forced marriage; torture; cruel treatment of civilian and other inhumane acts; enslavement; outrage upon personal dignity; conscription and use of children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities; pillaging; destruction of property and persecution.”

“It is further alleged that Dominic Ongwen, Joseph Kony, and the other Sinia Brigade commanders were part of a common plan to abduct women and girls in northern Uganda that were then used as forced wives and sex slaves, tortured, raped and made to serve as domestic help; and to conscript and use children in the LRA.”

The trial will open this December with statements and addressing of the accused by the Judges. The trial will then resume on 16 January 2017, when the Prosecution will begin to present its evidence and call its witnesses before the judges.